Skip to main content PC Gamer THE GLOBAL AUTHORITY ON PC GAMES Search PC Gamer View Profile Movies & TV Gaming Industry PC Gaming Show Newsletter Signup Community Guidelines Affiliate Links Meet the team About PC Gamer PC Gamer Magazine Subscription Why subscribe? Subscribe to the world's #1 PC gaming mag Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£35.99View Doom: The Dark Ages Monster Hunter Wilds Marvel Rivals Handheld Gaming PCs Nintendo is going to charge Switch 2 handheld console owners money for a glorified digital manual that doubles as a game Jeremy Laird 2 April 2025 There's no actual price yet, but Switch 2 Welcome Tour is definitely a 'paid' game. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Nintendo) Is it a game? Is it a manual? Maybe it's just a showcase. Whatever you want to call it, you're definitely going to have to pay for Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a launch game for the new Nintendo Switch 2 handheld, though exactly how much isn't yet clear. Explore the new system through tech demos, minigames, and quizzes with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a paid downloadable launch title for #NintendoSwitch2. #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/doZVYS0wjVApril 2, 2025 According to Nintendo, Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a "paid" digital title that's designed to help you explore the Switch 2 courtesy of, "tech demos, minigames, and quizzes." Perhaps unsurprisingly, the paid status of Switch 2 Welcome Tour hasn't exactly thrilled potential buyers of the new handheld. Many observers have pointed out that other similar devices have been released with free tech demos. For instance, Astro's Playroom was a free game on the PS5 that showcased the console's capabilities and was so good it eventually was expanded and turned into an award-winning fully paid-for sequel. Likewise, Valve created digital showcases for both the Steam Deck and the Index headset to introduce users to the new experiences on offer from the hardware. Of course, if we're talking Nintendo, Wii Sports was bundled free with the Wii. So, even Nintendo itself has form when it comes to providing games that showcase a new platform for free. Image 1 of 8 (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) (Image credit: Nintendo) The fact that Switch 2 Welcome Tour is going to be a paid game is particularly galling given that it appears to be as much a manual for the device with functionality discovery features than an actual game, even if there are unambiguous gaming elements, like mini golf. Perhaps once we've tried it, we'll have a different take if it turns out the experience is so stellar, paying money for it makes sense. But it still seems stingy to charge for a title designed to showcase the features and capability of a new console. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Maybe the parts of Switch 2 Welcome Tour which familiarise you with the new 'mouse' controls integrated into the Joy-Con controllers will be so mesmerising...yeah, OK, probably not. Anyway, nothing about this new handheld feels terribly affordable, what with a starting price of $449 ($499 with Mario Kart World Bundle). Life with a Switch 2 ain't gonna be cheap, that's for sure. Best handheld gaming PC: What's the best travel buddy? Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve's handheld. Best Steam Deck accessories: Get decked out. Jeremy Laird Social Links Navigation Hardware writer Jeremy has been writing about technology and PCs since the 90nm Netburst era (Google it!) and enjoys nothing more than a serious dissertation on the finer points of monitor input lag and overshoot followed by a forensic examination of advanced lithography. Or maybe he just likes machines that go “ping!” He also has a thing for tennis and cars. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. 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